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PEACH TRUCK REPUBLIC
Boar's Nest | Dallas, TX | 05.31.02
I had the pleasure of checking out the Peach Truck Republic last Friday night at the Boar's Nest. I have actually seen them two times prior at Club Dada; color me impressed all three times. It’s all about chemistry, the kind of chemistry one finds in bands of twice as many years.
 Mellowship set (thanks again to Steve Pocari and company). It was around 11:20. The Peach Truck’s first song was a rare opener, a lengthy instrumental by the name of “The Greenhill Revival.” As with most Peach Truck numbers, this song is an extended version of a track from their latest release Fenceposts. And as the name of the band implies, the guitars immediately conjure up memories of an Allman Brother’s show, but the similarity stops there. With the rhythms, solos and segues, Justin Cook's marvelous piano fills and vocals, the groove of Jones and Bramwell on drums and percussion, and the bass of Jerry Jewell, the music remains wonderfully original.
“Clover Creek” (also off the new CD) followed, but with a different introduction. Mixing things up always renews a song, and this one flowed well. As the band segued into “Parson's Farm” the show slowed down a bit, took in a quick breath of air, and then left off again with a quick flash from the past, a tease from Buffalo Springfield's "For What It’s Worth." Without missing a beat they were knee deep into “Like Fenceposts Down the Row,” yet another extended live version of a song from the new CD (in this case, the title song). At this point, the band moved back and forth, in and out of several musical themes taken from both Parson's Farm and Fenceposts. It was during these turnarounds that the vocal harmonies really began to shine.
“Farmer's Row” followed, picking things up and shaking things down all the way into “Goldleaf and Gravel.” These two Fencepost tracks gave rise to an extended jam of “The Ten Barn Syndication.” “Digging on the Bottom” emerged from “Ten Barn,” and up went the mood for the evening. Next on the agenda was “Bird-eye.” Per a fan request, this title ended up with a combination of Bill Wither's “Use Me” and Traffic's “Feeling Alright,” the former track being much to the surprise and delight of all at the Boar's Nest that evening. (“Use Me” had come up on the juke box while the stage was being set, and the Peach Truck’s later rendition was a real crowd pleaser.)
“The Tram-Run Seduction (Farmer's Reprise)" continued the evening's set. “Sally Mae's Parade” came next and moved us on down to Dixon's “Lemon Song,” a song performed at the soundman's request. I don't believe I’ve ever heard ‘Lemon Song” covered (vocal changes and tempo shifts made it a complete lemon twist!). “Dovetailed” grooved and jammed its way into an R&B number known as “Canebrake Lane,” with bassist Jerry Jewell taking on the vocals. I noticed a Zeppelin "No Quarter" feeling via the keyboards on this one, kind of slow, interesting. And then the wah-filled jam of “Rosin and Mortise” began working us toward the final song, yet another one of Fenceposts’ original staples, “Ladderback.” They drew out the last notes with an a capella close, and it was with this solitary chorus that they concluded the now two-and-a-half-hour show.
Cook said he was a bit hoarse and couldn't handle the vocals quite as well as he would have liked to. When it came to rating the performance, Wes thought that they were at about 50% that evening. Soundwise, in my opinion, the piano could have been turned up a bit to better highlight some of the sections, but that’s the only minus I was aware of. What else can I say? From beginning to end, the Peach Truck Republic ran the gamut, as it were: a concoction of Southern rock and funk all mixed up in rhythm & blues. It was an outstanding way to start off the weekend.
And one last bit: a big thanks to lower Greenville’s Boar's Nest for welcoming music like this, music for us. Let’s hope they continue to do it, night after music-filled night.
The Set List:
Greenhill Revival
Clover Creek >
Parson's Farm >
Like Fenceposts Down the Row
Farmer's Row >
Goldleaf and Gravel >
The Ten Barn Syndication >
Digging on the Bottom
Bird-eye >
Use Me (Bill Withers) / Feeling All Right (Traffic) jam
The Tram-Run Seduction
Sally Mae's Parade
Lemon Song
Dovetailed (jam) >
Canebrake Lane
Rosin and Mortise (jam) >
Ladderback
The Band:
Wes Dismuke: guitar and vocals
Eddie Hord: guitar and vocals
Justin Cook: pianos and vocals
Jerry Jewell: bass and vocals
Evan Jones: drums
Beers, Steers, and Ears!
Randy Jessup
JamBase | Texas
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